5 MLB players who could benefit most from universal DH

With the news that the DH will be coming to the National League in 2022, there are now 15 more jobs out there. Current MLB free agents Albert Pujols, Nelson Cruz, Kyle Schwarber, Brad Miller, Dan Vogelbach, and Eddie Rosario all jump out as potential players whose markets have now expanded.

The DH has long been viewed as the American League’s way of hiding poor defenders with good bats on their team. Players like J.D. Martinez of the Boston Red Sox barely play the outfield anymore because of their lack of range and throwing arm, but they can remain in the lineup since they are one of the top offensive performers in the game.

Now, the National League will have this option as well. All of a sudden, pitcher’s spots in batting orders will be replaced with proven sluggers.

Let’s take a look at five MLB players who could benefit the most from the universal DH.

1. New York Mets outfielder Dominic Smith

With the emergence of Pete Alonso at first base, it immediately became difficult to see how Dominic Smith would fit into the New York Mets‘ plans going forward.

Smith, 26, is a power-hitting left-handed bat who has excellent gap power and an insane amount of thump in his bat. Smith, a first baseman by trade, had to move to left field in order for Pete Alonso to have a place in the Mets’ lineup.

The Mets had struck hard and fast this offseason before the lockout came down; signing both Starling Marte and Mark Canha to free agent deals. Those two moves plus the presence of Brandon Nimmo in right field all but guarantee that the Dominic Smith in left field expirement is over.

Last year was Smith’s first full season in left and while he did not commit more than just a single error out on the grass, he ranked near the bottom of the league in sprint speed, Outs Above Average and Outfielder Jump rate. He was also dead last in OAA and Runs Prevented in the outfield. His large, clunky frame keeps him from ever being viewed as a successful outfielder, so DH may have to be the way to go for him.

2. Cincinnati Reds infielder Mike Moustakas

33-year old Mike Moustakas seems to no longer have a spot in the Cincinnati Reds‘ everyday lineup. Moustakas, a sweet-swinging left-handed power bat, can play first base, second base and third base at a respectable clip.

Moustakas signed a four-year deal with the Reds back in the 2019-2020 offseason and has not performed up to expectations in either season he’s been a part of the organization.

“Moose” had a down year in the COVID-shortened 2020 season and then fought through a whole slew of injuries last year; ultimately posting a -1.0 bWAR with 6 home runs in just 62 games.

With the outstanding performance by rookie Jonathan India last season, the Reds have now successfully filled every position that Moustakas is capable of playing. With India the second basemen of the future and Joey Votto at first with Eugenio Suarez at third, there’s simply no place for Moose to play.

Moustakas could very well find himself as a part-time infielder and full-time DH in the upcoming season. He will still be able to play the infield when the perennial starters need days off, but he is strictly a designated hitter moving forward.

3. Free agent outfielder Nick Castellanos

Soon-to-be 30-year old Nick Castellanos has consistently shown that he is a serious threat with a bat in his hands. Last season as a member of the Cincinnati Reds, Castellanos posted a career-high in home runs and came one short of his career-high in RBI with 100.

On the defensive side of the ball, Castellanos is a right fielder by trade who projects as more of a DH-only type of player. He came up a third baseman and eventually made the switch to right field and has been well below-average since.

Castellanos proved last year that he should no longer be viewed as an option in the outfield. Per StatCast, he appeared in 150+ games in right field last year and finished near the very bottom of the league in OAA and made just 83% of total catches last season. His routes were extremely poor and Baseball-Reference has him at -1.3 dWAR last season.

4. Colorado Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon

While his performance last season suggests that Colorado Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon is beginning to decline, he is still just two years removed from an All Star appearance and a 32 home run showing.

Blackmon, 35, is a four-time All Star and finished as high as 5th in the NL MVP voting back in 2017. He is a yearly threat to hit .300 and post double-digit home run totals. Although last season was a down year in regards to his power, it’s a reasonable assumption to make that he still has some thump left in the tank.

On defense, Blackmon has appeared exclusively in right field for the past three years and 2021 was his rock bottom as far as defensive metrics. He finished in just the third percentile in OAA and eighth percentile in his routing metrics. Blackmon did not make a single “5 star” catch per StatCast in over 1,100 innings last year.

As things currently stand, the Rockies have both Yonathan Daza, Raimel Tapia, and Ryan Vilade on hand to replace Blackmon in right field as he makes his transition to full-time DH.